Spectroscopic study of the HgMn star HD 49606: the quest for binarity, abundance stratifications and magnetic field

In this paper, we present a multi-instrument analysis of the mercury-manganese star HD 49606. New spectroscopic observations have been obtained by us with Catania Astrophysical Observatory Spectropolarimeter (CAOS@OAC) and High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher-North@Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (HARPS-N@TNG). Combining these observations with archive data coming from other instruments, we performed a comprehensive analysis of this star. We highlight the motion around the centre of mass of a binary system of SB1 type, and we calculate the fundamental parameters characterizing its orbit. We also speculate on the nature of the unseen component. From the fit of H β and H γ, we determined the effective temperature and gravity, while from a number of metal lines, we derive the rotational and microturbulent velocities. Regarding chemical composition, we found underabundances of helium, oxygen, magnesium, sulfur and nickel, solar composition for carbon and overabundances for all the other elements. In particular, mercury abundance is derived taking into account an isotopic mixture different from the terrestrial one. As to magnesium, silicon and phosphorus, we found a non-constant abundance with the optical depth, a result currently considered an evidence of stratification. Spectropolarimetric observations have been performed in the attempt to highlight the presence of a magnetic field, but no detection has been found.